A. A. Milne - "The Red House Mystery"

John Lothrop Motley - "History of the United Netherlands, 1585"

Edward Payson Roe - "Opening a Chestnut Burr"

G. A. Henty - "The Reign Of Terror"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: The Holy War

J >> John Bunyan >> The Holy War




'Also,' said the messenger, 'besides all this, the new king, or
rather rebellious tyrant, over the once famous, but now perishing
town of Mansoul, has set up a Lord Mayor and a Recorder of his own.
For Mayor, he has set up one Mr. Lustings; and for Recorder, Mr.
Forget-Good; two of the vilest of all the town of Mansoul.' This
faithful messenger also proceeded, and told what a sort of new
burgesses Diabolus had made; also that he had built several strong
forts, towers, and strongholds in Mansoul. He told, too, the which
I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the town of Mansoul into
arms, the better to capacitate them, on his behalf, to make
resistance against Shaddai their King, should he come to reduce
them to their former obedience.

Now this tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of things in
private, but in open court, the King and his Son, high lords, chief
captains, and nobles, being all there present to hear. But by that
they had heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one to
have seen, had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief,
and compunction of spirit, there was among all sorts, to think that
famous Mansoul was now taken: only the King and his Son foresaw
all this long before, yea, and sufficiently provided for the relief
of Mansoul, though they told not everybody thereof. Yet because
they also would have a share in condoling of the Misery of Mansoul,
therefore they also did, and that at a rate of the highest degree,
bewail the losing of Mansoul. The King said plainly that it
grieved him at the heart, and you may be sure that his Son was not
a whit behind him. Thus gave they conviction to all about them
that they had love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul.
Well, when the King and his Son were retired into the privy
chamber, there they again consulted about what they had designed
before, to wit, that as Mansoul should in time be suffered to be
lost, so as certainly it should be recovered again; recovered, I
say, in such a way, as that both the King and his Son would get
themselves eternal fame and glory thereby. Wherefore, after this
consult, the Son of Shaddai (a sweet and comely Person, and one
that had always great affection for those that were in affliction,
but one that had mortal enmity in his heart against Diabolus,
because he was designed for it, and because he sought his crown and
dignity)--this Son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken hands with
his Father and promised that he would be his servant to recover his
Mansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the
same. The purport of which agreement was this: to wit, that at a
certain time, prefixed by both, the King's Son should take a
journey into the country of Universe, and there, in a way of
justice and equity, by making amends for the follies of Mansoul, he
should lay a foundation of perfect deliverance from Diabolus and
from his tyranny.

Moreover Emmanuel resolved to make, at a time convenient, a war
upon the giant Diabolus, even while he was possessed of the town of
Mansoul; and that he would fairly by strength of hand drive him out
of his hold, his nest, and take it to himself to be his habitation.

This now being resolved upon, order was given to the Lord Chief
Secretary to draw up a fair record of what was determined, and to
cause that it should be published in all the corners of the kingdom
of Universe. A short breviate of the contents thereof you may, if
you please, take here as follows:

'Let all men know who are concerned, that the Son of Shaddai, the
great King, is engaged by covenant to his Father to bring his
Mansoul to him again; yea, and to put Mansoul, too, through the
power of his matchless love, into a far better and more happy
condition than it was in before it was taken by Diabolus.'

These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to the
no little molestation of the tyrant Diabolus; 'for now,' thought
he, 'I shall be molested, and my habitation will be taken from me.'

But when this matter, I mean this purpose of the King and his Son,
did at first take air at court, who can tell how the high lords,
chief captains, and noble princes that were there, were taken with
the business! First, they whispered it one to another, and after
that it began to ring out through the King's palace, all wondering
at the glorious design that between the King and his Son was on
foot for the miserable town of Mansoul. Yea, the courtiers could
scarce do anything either for the King or kingdom, but they would
mix, with the doing thereof, a noise of the love of the King and
his Son, that they had for the town of Mansoul.

Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes be content to
keep this news at court; yea, before the records thereof were
perfected, themselves came down and told it in Universe. At last
it came to the ears, as I said, of Diabolus, to his no little
discontent; for you must think it would perplex him to hear of such
a design against him. Well, but after a few casts in his mind, he
concluded upon these four things.

First, that this news, these good tidings, (if possible,) should be
kept from the ears of the town of Mansoul; 'for,' said he, 'if they
should once come to the knowledge that Shaddai, their former King,
and Emmanuel his Son, are contriving good for the town of Mansoul,
what can be expected by me, but that Mansoul will make a revolt
from under my hand and government, and return again to him?'

Now, to accomplish this his design, he renews his flattery with my
Lord Willbewill, and also gives him strict charge and command, that
he should keep watch by day and by night at all the gates of the
town, especially Ear-gate and Eye-gate; 'for I hear of a design,'
quoth he, 'a design to make us all traitors, and that Mansoul must
be reduced to its first bondage again. I hope they are but flying
stories,' quoth he; 'however, let no such news by any means be let
into Mansoul, lest the people be dejected thereat. I think, my
lord, it can be no welcome news to you; I am sure it is none to me;
and I think that, at this time, it should be all our wisdom and
care to nip the head of all such rumours as shall tend to trouble
our people. Wherefore I desire, my lord, that you will in this
matter do as I say. Let there be strong guards daily kept at every
gate of the town. Stop also and examine from whence such come that
you perceive do from far come hither to trade, nor let them by any
means be admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly perceive
that they are favourers of our excellent government. I command,
moreover,' said Diabolus, 'that there be spies continually walking
up and down the town of Mansoul, and let them have power to
suppress and destroy any that they shall perceive to be plotting
against us, or that shall prate of what by Shaddai and Emmanuel is
intended.'

This, therefore, was accordingly done; my Lord Willbewill hearkened
to his lord and master, went willingly after the commandment, and,
with all the diligence he could, kept any that would from going out
abroad, or that sought to bring these tidings to Mansoul, from
coming into the town.

Secondly, this done, in the next place, Diabolus, that he might
make Mansoul as sure as he could, frames and imposes a new oath and
horrible covenant upon the townsfolk:- To wit, that they should
never desert him nor his government, nor yet betray him, nor seek
to alter his laws; but that they should own, confess, stand by, and
acknowledge him for their rightful king, in defiance to any that do
or hereafter shall, by any pretence, law, or title whatever, lay
claim to the town of Mansoul; thinking, belike, that Shaddai had
not power to absolve them from this covenant with death, and
agreement with hell. Nor did the silly Mansoul stick or boggle at
all at this most monstrous engagement; but, as if it had been a
sprat in the mouth of a whale, they swallowed it without any
chewing. Were they troubled at all? Nay, they rather bragged and
boasted of their so brave fidelity to the tyrant, their pretended
king, swearing that they would never be changelings, nor forsake
their old lord for a new. Thus did Diabolus tie poor Mansoul fast.

Thirdly. But jealousy, that never thinks itself strong enough, put
him, in the next place, upon another exploit, which was, yet more,
if possible, to debauch this town of Mansoul. Wherefore he caused,
by the hand of one Mr. Filth, an odious, nasty, lascivious piece of
beastliness to be drawn up in writing, and to be set upon the
castle gates; whereby he granted and gave license to all his true
and trusty sons in Mansoul to do whatsoever their lustful appetites
prompted them to do; and that no man was to let, hinder, or control
them, upon pain of incurring the displeasure of their prince.

Now this he did for these reasons:-

1. That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weaker and weaker,
and so more unable, should tidings come that their redemption was
designed, to believe, hope, or consent to the truth thereof; for
reason says, The bigger the sinner, the less grounds of hopes of
mercy.

2. The second reason was, if perhaps Emmanuel, the Son of Shaddai
their King, by seeing the horrible and profane doings of the town
of Mansoul, might repent, though entered into a covenant of
redeeming them, of pursuing that covenant of their redemption; for
he knew that Shaddai was holy, and that his Son Emmanuel was holy;
yea, he knew it by woeful experience, for for his iniquity and sin
was Diabolus cast from the highest orbs. Wherefore what more
rational than for him to conclude that thus, for sin, it might fare
with Mansoul? But fearing also lest this knot should break, he
bethinks himself of another, to wit:-

Fourthly. To endeavour to possess all hearts in the town of
Mansoul that Shaddai was raising an army, to come to overthrow and
utterly to destroy this town of Mansoul. And this he did to
forestall any tidings that might come to their ears of their
deliverance: 'For,' thought he, 'if I first bruit this, the
tidings that shall come after will all be swallowed up of this; for
what else will Mansoul say, when they shall hear that they must be
delivered, but that the true meaning is, Shaddai intends to destroy
them? Wherefore he summons the whole town into the market-place,
and there, with deceitful tongue, thus he addressed himself unto
them:-

'Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you know, my
legal subjects, and men of the famous town of Mansoul. You know
how, from the first day that I have been with you until now, I have
behaved myself among you, and what liberty and great privileges you
have enjoyed under my government, I hope to your honour and mine,
and also to your content and delight. Now, my famous Mansoul, a
noise of trouble there is abroad, of trouble to the town of
Mansoul; sorry I am thereof for your sakes: for I received but now
by the post from my Lord Lucifer, (and he useth to have good
intelligence,) that your old King Shaddai is raising an army to
come against you, to destroy you root and branch; and this, O
Mansoul, is now the cause that at this time I have called you
together, namely, to advise what in this juncture is best to be
done. For my part, I am but one, and can with ease shift for
myself, did I list to seek my own case, and to leave my Mansoul in
all the danger; but my heart is so firmly united to you, and so
unwilling am I to leave you, that I am willing to stand and fall
with you, to the utmost hazard that shall befall me. What say you,
O my Mansoul? Will you now desert your old friend, or do you think
of standing by me?'

Then, as one man, with one mouth, they cried out together, 'Let him
die the death that will not.'

Then said Diabolus again, 'It is in vain for us to hope for
quarter, for this King knows not how to show it. True, perhaps,
he, at his first sitting down before us, will talk of and pretend
to mercy, that thereby, with the more ease, and less trouble, he
may again make himself the master of Mansoul. Whatever, therefore,
he shall say, believe not one syllable or tittle of it; for all
such language is but to overcome us, and to make us, while we
wallow in our blood, the trophies of his merciless victory. My
mind is, therefore, that we resolve to the last man to resist him,
and not to believe him upon any terms, for in at that door will
come our danger. But shall we be flattered out of our lives? I
hope you know more of the rudiments of politics than to suffer
yourselves so pitifully to be served.

'But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of our
lives, or the lives of some of them that are underlings in Mansoul,
what help will that be to you that are the chief of the town,
especially you whom I have set up and whose greatness has been
procured by you through your faithful sticking to me? And suppose,
again, that he should give quarter to every one of you, be sure he
will bring you into that bondage under which you were captivated
before, or a worse, and then what good will your lives do you?
Shall you with him live in pleasure as you do now? No, no; you
must be bound by laws that will pinch you, and be made to do that
which at present is hateful to you. I am for you, if you are for
me; and it is better to die valiantly than to live like pitiful
slaves. But, I say, the life of a slave will be counted a life too
good for Mansoul now. Blood, blood, nothing but blood is in every
blast of Shaddai's trumpet against poor Mansoul now. Pray, be
concerned; I hear he is coming. Up, and stand to your arms that
now, while you have any leisure, I may learn you some feats of war.
Armour for you I have, and by me it is; yea, and it is sufficient
for Mansoul from top to toe; nor can you be hurt by what his force
can do, if you shall keep it well girt and fastened about you.
Come, therefore, to my castle, and welcome, and harness yourselves
for the war. There is helmet, breastplate, sword, and shield, and
what not, that will make you fight like men.

'1. My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is in hope of doing
well at last, what lives soever you live. This is that which they
had who said, that they should have peace, though they walked in
the wickedness of their heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. A
piece of approved armour this is, and whoever has it, and can hold
it, so long no arrow, dart, sword, or shield can hurt him. This,
therefore, keep on, and thou wilt keep off many a blow, my Mansoul.

'2. My breastplate is a breastplate of iron. I had it forged in
mine own country, and all my soldiers are armed therewith. In
plain language, it is a hard heart, a heart as hard as iron, and as
much past feeling as a stone; the which if you get and keep,
neither mercy shall win you, nor judgment fright you. This
therefore, is a piece of armour most necessary for all to put on
that hate Shaddai, and that would fight against him under my
banner.

'3. My sword is a tongue that is set on fire of hell, and that can
bend itself to speak evil of Shaddai, his Son, his ways, and
people. Use this; it has been tried a thousand times twice told.
Whoever hath it, keeps it, and makes that use of it as I would have
him, can never be conquered by mine enemy.

'4. My, shield is unbelief, or calling into question the truth of
the word, or all the sayings that speak of the judgment that
Shaddai has appointed for wicked men. Use this shield; many
attempts he has made upon it, and sometimes, it is true, it has
been bruised; but they that have writ of the wars of Emmanuel
against my servants, have testified that he could do no mighty work
there because of their unbelief. Now, to handle this weapon of
mine aright, it is not to believe things because they are true, of
what sort or by whomsoever asserted. If he speaks of judgment,
care not for it; if he speaks of mercy, care not for it; if he
promises, if he swears that he would do to Mansoul, if it turns, no
hurt, but good, regard not what is said, question the truth of all,
for it is to wield the shield of unbelief aright, and as my
servants ought and do; and he that doth otherwise loves me not, nor
do I count him but an enemy to me.

'5. Another part or piece,' said Diabolus, 'of mine excellent
armour is a dumb and prayerless spirit, a spirit that scorns to cry
for mercy: wherefore be you, my Mansoul, sure that you make use of
this. What! cry for quarter! Never do that, if you would be mine.
I know you are stout men, and am sure that I have clad you with
that which is armour of proof. Wherefore, to cry to Shaddai for
mercy, let that be far from you. Besides all this, I have a maul,
firebrands, arrows, and death, all good hand-weapons, and such as
will do execution.'

After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, he
addressed himself to them in such like words as these: 'Remember,'
quoth he, 'that I am your rightful king, and that you have taken an
oath and entered into covenant to be true to me and my cause: I
say, remember this, and show yourselves stout and valiant men of
Mansoul. Remember also the kindness that I have always showed to
you, and that without your petition I have granted to you external
things; wherefore the privileges, grants, immunities, profits, and
honours wherewith I have endowed you do call for, at your hands,
returns of loyalty, my lion-like men of Mansoul: and when so fit a
time to show it as when another shall seek to take my dominion over
you into his own hands? One word more, and I have done. Can we
but stand, and overcome this one shock or brunt, I doubt not but in
little time all the world will be ours; and when that day comes, my
true hearts, I will make you kings, princes, and captains, and what
brave days shall we have then!'

Diabolus having thus armed and forearmed his servants and vassals
in Mansoul against their good and lawful King Shaddai, in the next
place, he doubleth his guards at the gates of the town, and he
takes himself to the castle, which was his stronghold. His vassals
also, to show their wills, and supposed (but ignoble) gallantry,
exercise themselves in their arms every day, and teach one another
feats of war; they also defied their enemies, and sang up the
praises of their tyrant; they threatened also what men they would
be if ever things should rise so high as a war between Shaddai and
their king.

Now all this time the good King, the King Shaddai, was preparing to
send an army to recover the town of Mansoul again from under the
tyranny of their pretended king Diabolus; but he thought good, at
first, not to send them by the hand and conduct of brave Emmanuel
his Son, but under the hand of some of his servants, to see first
by them the temper of Mansoul, and whether by them they would be
won to the obedience of their King. The army consisted of above
forty thousand, all true men, for they came from the King's own
court, and were those of his own choosing.

They came up to Mansoul under the conduct of four stout generals,
each man being a captain of ten thousand men, and these are their
names and their ensigns. The name of the first was Boanerges, the
name of the second was Captain Conviction, the name of the third
was Captain Judgment, and the name of the fourth was Captain
Execution. These were the captains that Shaddai sent to regain
Mansoul.

These four captains, as was said, the King thought fit, in the
first place, to send to Mansoul, to make an attempt upon it; for
indeed generally in all his wars he did use to send these four
captains in the van, for they were very stout and rough-hewn men,
men that were fit to break the ice, and to make their way by dint
of sword, and their men were like themselves.

To each of these captains the King gave a banner, that it might be
displayed, because of the goodness of his cause, and because of the
right that he had to Mansoul.

First, to Captain Boanerges, for he was the chief, to him, I say,
were given ten thousand men. His ensign was Mr. Thunder; he bare
the black colours, and his scutcheon was the three burning
thunderbolts.

The second captain was Captain Conviction; to him also were given
ten thousand men. His ensign's name was Mr. Sorrow; he did bear
the pale colours, and his scutcheon was the book of the law wide
open, from whence issued a flame of fire.

The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given ten
thousand men. His ensign's name was Mr. Terror; he bare the red
colours, and his scutcheon was a burning fiery furnace.

The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him were given ten
thousand men. His ensign was one Mr. Justice; he also bare the red
colours, and his scutcheon was a fruitless tree, with an axe lying
at the root thereof.

These four captains, as I said, had every one of them under his
command ten thousand men, all of good fidelity to the King, and
stout at their military actions.

Well, the captains and their forces, their men and under officers,
being had upon a day by Shaddai into the field, and there called
all over by their names, were then and there put into such harness
as became their degree and that service which now they were going
about for their King.

Now, when the King had mustered his forces, (for it is he that
mustereth the host to the battle,) he gave unto the captains their
several commissions, with charge and commandment in the audience of
all the soldiers, that they should take heed faithfully and
courageously to do and execute the same. Their commissions were,
for the substance of them, the same in form, though, as to name,
title, place and degree of the captains, there might be some, but
very small variation. And here let me give you an account of the
matter and sum contained in their commission.


A Commission from the great Shaddai, King of Mansoul, to his trusty
and noble Captain, the Captain Boanerges, for his making War upon
the town of Mansoul.


'O, thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering captains over
one ten thousand of my valiant and faithful servants, go thou in my
name, with this thy force, to the miserable town of Mansoul; and
when thou comest thither, offer them first conditions of peace; and
command them that, casting off the yoke and tyranny of the wicked
Diabolus, they return to me, their rightful Prince and Lord.
Command them also that they cleanse themselves from all that is his
in the town of Mansoul, and look to thyself, that thou hast good
satisfaction touching the truth of their obedience. Thus when thou
hast commanded them, (if they in truth submit thereto,) then do
thou, to the uttermost of thy power, what in thee lies to set up
for me a garrison in the famous town of Mansoul; nor do thou hurt
the least native that moveth or breatheth therein, if they will
submit themselves to me, but treat thou such as if they were thy
friend or brother; for all such I love, and they shall be dear unto
me, and tell them that I will take a time to come unto them, and to
let them know that I am merciful.

'But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons and the producing
of thy authority, resist, stand out against thee, and rebel, then
do I command thee to make use of all thy cunning, power, might, and
force, to bring them under by strength of hand. Farewell.'


Thus you see the sum of their commissions; for, as I said before,
for the substance of them, they were the same that the rest of the
noble captains had.

Wherefore they, having received each commander his authority at the
hand of their King, the day being appointed, and the place of their
rendezvous prefixed, each commander appeared in such gallantry as
became his cause and calling. So, after a new entertainment from
Shaddai, with flying colours they set forward to march towards the
famous town of Mansoul. Captain Boanerges led the van, Captain
Conviction and Captain Judgment made up the main body, and Captain
Execution brought up the rear. They then, having a great way to
go, (for the town of Mansoul was far off from the court of
Shaddai,) marched through the regions and countries of many people,
not hurting or abusing any, but blessing wherever they came. They
also lived upon the King's cost in all the way they went.

Having travelled thus for many days, at last they came within sight
of Mansoul; the which when they saw, the captains could for their
hearts do no less than for a while bewail the condition of the
town; for they quickly saw how that it was prostrate to the will of
Diabolus, and to his ways and designs.

Well, to be short, the captains came up before the town, march up
to Ear-gate, sit down there (for that was the place of hearing).
So, when they had pitched their tents and entrenched themselves,
they addressed themselves to make their assault.

Now the townsfolk at first, beholding so gallant a company, so
bravely accoutred, and so excellently disciplined, having on their
glittering armour, and displaying of their flying colours, could
not but come out of their houses and gaze. But the cunning fox
Diabolus, fearing that the people, after this sight, should, on a
sudden summons, open the gates to the captains, came down with all
haste from the castle, and made them retire into the body of the
town, who, when he had them there, made this lying and deceivable
speech unto them: